President William Ruto’s nominee for Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), Duncan Oburu Ojwang, has declined the appointment just a week after his name was forwarded to Parliament for vetting.
In a communication to the National Assembly on Tuesday, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said he had received a letter from Ojwang "respectfully" turning down the offer, citing personal reasons and a perceived conflict of interest.
“In light of the foregoing, the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs is directed to cease any further consideration of the nominee," Wetang’ula told MPs.
He also directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to immediately notify the appointing authority of the new development.
Ojwang was nominated by the President on August 5, 2025, and his name, together with his curriculum vitae, was referred to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee for vetting.
The nomination followed a competitive selection process.
He was among the six candidates shortlisted in May from a field of 17 applicants.
A seasoned legal scholar and human rights practitioner, Ojwang previously served as Dean of the School of Law at Africa Nazarene University from 2017 to January 2023 and also lectured at the University of Nairobi.
His teaching portfolio includes constitutional law, human rights, environmental law, and law and development.
Academically, he holds a PhD in Law and Policy from the University of Arizona, an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from Indiana University, and a Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
He also has a background in psychology, holding a bachelor’s degree in the discipline from Indiana University.
Beyond academia, Ojwang has worked with the African Union as an election observer, participated in the Tumaini peace mediation process in South Sudan, and served on the technical team of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
His nomination had been challenged in court by the Katiba Institute and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
It argued that his nomination violated Article 250(11) of the Constitution, which prohibits a commission’s chairperson and vice chairperson from being of the same gender.
Since the current KNCHR vice-chairperson, Raymond Nyeris, is male, the petitioners claimed the appointment was unconstitutional.
The High Court matter is scheduled for mention on September 17.
Ojwang’s withdrawal effectively ends the vetting process, sending the decision back to the appointing authority to identify a new nominee.
